The Five Thousand Year Leap, principles 1-3

For part 1, click here.


Principle 1: The Genius of Natural Law

"People's Law" = "Natural Law" = "God's law"

Our Constitution is based on Natural Law.  It is absolute common sense that a government should be modeled after and as close to God's law as possible.  If you want order, freedom, and justice, shouldn't you follow the example of the Creator of these things...and of the universe for that matter.  It is shameful that we have become so God-less, thus making gods of ourselves and think we can create a utopian society.  No one can do that.  We are flawed, imperfect, and simple-minded in comparison to the God of the universe.  Who are we to compare ourselves or think so highly of ourselves?  We are incredibly foolish, comical and ridiculous...though in spite of ourselves, He loves us unconditionally and continues to reach out to us so that we can eternally be with Him.  He is incredibly tolerant.

"It is the code of 'right reason' from the Creator Himself.  It cannot be altered.  It cannot be repealed.  It cannot be abandoned by legislators or the people themselves, even though they may pretend to do so.  In Natural Law we are dealing with the factors of absolute reality.  It is basic in its principles, comprehensible to the human mind, and totally correct and morally right in its general operation."

We must not base rights "upon men's opinions, but upon Nature."  Isn't that true?  Today we truly do call good evil and evil good.  And we allow Nancy Pelosi to proclaim health care our "inalienable right"...whose to say our ridiculous leaders won't one day decide that a free car to every person regardless of the cost to the dealer is an "inalienable right?"  Sounds ridiculous?  Yes, it is.  Last I checked, the Bible (that which our Natural Law Constitution is based upon) says nothing about my right to health care.  Life, yes. Freedom, yes. Property, yes.  Health care, no.  We must take care of ourselves, folks, and lean on God to help us where we are lacking. Our court justices decide the value of life to the unborn, among other things.  Are they God?!

I loved the end of the chapter when it listed examples of Natural Law that are in our Constitution.  Genius!  God is omnipotent. (duh!)  And our Founders are genius for looking to Him as they built the foundation of our envied government.
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Principle 2: A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.


Principle 3: The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.

We must be self-controlled, self-restrained, and selfless.  Can you imagine if we all did these 3 things how much better off we would be?  To be moral and virtuous...never mind being a Christian (though that would help and encompass all), is really the heart of the issue.  We have become a corrupt, selfish society because we have insisted on having our own way.  What is our standard?  We can not decide for ourselves what morality is.  There must be a standard.  The Founders used the Bible.  Even the most un-religious Founders (Jefferson, Franklin) were advocates of the Bible.  This does not mean that they insisted on everyone being Christian, they just wanted virtue and morality and based it on God's law.  It's sort of a no-brainer, don't you think?
The Founders clearly understood that our government would not be sustainable unless virtue and morality within its people AND its leaders was the status quo.  Our ideals, goals, and expectations of ourselves and those around us have plummeted.  To see how purposeful and driven our Founders were and to compare it to our culture today is an embarrassment.  We have become lazy, selfish, immoral, and corrupt.  This doesn't have to be the norm, but we must, as individuals, change ourselves and influence our family, raising a virtuous and moral posterity so that the truth, goodness, and freedom of this great nation may be restored.  "...each man must somehow be persuaded to submerge his personal wants into the greater good of the whole...to sacrifice his private interest for the good of the community..."
I was inspired in this chapter to know that Revolutionary patriots of the past overcame seemingly overwhelming opposition to accomplish freedom.  Today, it is the 9-12-ers, the Tea-Party-ers, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Chris Christy, etc. that inspire us and let us know that we are not alone in our passion for freedom and we strengthen each other to rise and stand for it, even if it costs us our lives.

"She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will.  It depends on her virtue." ~Samuel Adams

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." ~John Adams

"Virtue and morality in the character of a nation is the secret to its survival."

"Public officials should not be chosen if they are lacking experience, training, proven virtue, and demonstrated wisdom." (taken from the thoughts of John Adams...not a direct quote)

Wouldn't it be nice if we elected people of character rather than the one with the most money...who exalts him/herself on our tv, radio, billboards, telephone..., and slams their opponent by being nasty?  Oh, what a concept.  To think that some of our Founders did not get along with one another but made a very diligent effort to find common ground for the sake of the people...denying themselves and seeing the big picture and the greater good.

Of note, in Principle 3 is the idea that public office was not to be a position sought after for monetary gain.  Maybe someone should remind Obama, his cronies, and the multitude of politicians like him about this. (For Borregans, this is a good reason to get Bill Horn out of office...he sought to add 25% to his already ample, $140k, salary.)  Benjamin Franklin's passion about this very subject is to be paid attention to.  He was right that high salaries are a sure way to attract scoundrels...just look at our current politicians, making a career of politics for reasons of money and power and not for the greater good of the people.  They hardly notice the people.  We, now, have a congress packed with such "scoundrels."

"Place before the yes of such men a post of honor, that shall at the same time be a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it." ~Benjamin Franklin

"The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes, the greater the need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans, and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure." ~Benjamin Franklin

Gee, do the above quotes remind you of anyone?  Hmm, I wonder who?  Lie.  Tell the people what they want to hear.  Be a rock star.  Get elected.  Then, don't keep any of your promises and defy the American people's wishes.  Tax the people practically to death.  (Those were little, subtle hints.)  If memory of history serves, this happened before in our history and resulted in a tea party and revolution.  Hmmm, interesting.

"It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuit.  These will thrust themselves into your government, and be your rulers." ~Franklin (Man!  That's weird.  I feel like someone is trying to tell me something.  Some things just aren't coincidence.  Ya know?  I'm just sayin'...)

Principle 3 really should be a must-read for all.  (I hope I don't feel that way about the 25 I have yet to read.)

One more thing about Principle 3 is the idea that if you are a patriotic, virtuous, and talented leader, then you have a duty to be a public servant.  "The best citizens should except major roles in public life." "The natural tendency of nearly all people is to encourage others to run for office, but not get involved themselves."  Boy!  Isn't that true?  It sure must be a headache to be in public office, especially when you are upright.  George Washington preferred to be a farmer, but he was called out of retirement three times to serve his country and did so out of duty (and without a salary).  I found it very interesting that John Adams wasn't a popular person but was reelected time and time again because it was known that he could be trusted.  Where are these people today?  There must be some out there.

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